Romeo Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:2, max ↨170ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 1 Feb 2025
"Parked at the bottom of Fish Creek and hiked the wash for approach/exit. Approach is straightforward, not too brushy, and once you find the game trai |
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| Best season: | BEST in Nov;Dec;Feb;Mar
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33.5475, -111.3134
33.5331, -111.3141
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Nearby photosIntroduction
A brushy canyon route with two beautiful rappels. There is really nothing to the canyon above or below the very short technical section, but the rappels are quite scenic and fun and the scenery along the way doesn't hurt.
From Phoenix, drive east on the US 60, then east on state route 88. From Tortilla Flat, continue on the 88 (becomes mostly well-graded dirt) to Fish Creek Vista parking area.
Approach
The initial approach is the same as the other "call sign canyons" in the area: Foxtrot, Sierra, Yankee and Tango.
Park at Fish Creek Hill vista. The Apache Trail is closed to vehicles beyond this point due to heavy rockfall and road damage.
Recommend referencing KML track.
From the car park follow the road a short distance beyond the closure, then cut left down into a drainage that will bring you directly to Fish Creek. The drainage is nontechnical, quite clean, and has a few easy downclimbs.
Once at the creek, head a short distance upstream until you reach the standard approach gully. The further you make it up this route, the more likely it becomes that you will start finding one of a few faint game trails that lead up between the cliffs on your left and the drainage below you on your right - follow this steep path all the way to the top. The upper drainage of Romeo Canyon begins immediately after reaching the top; head down and west following the semi-brushy, open drainage - only one or two very minor downclimbs are encountered along the way.
Descent
The very short technical section consists of two big beautiful rappels, one right after the other.
R1: 170 feet in length off a large boulder high RDC, and takes you all the way down to a sandy ledge (or perhaps a shallow, avoidable pool). A crawl through a hole on canyon right will take you safely to the anchor for rappel number two.
R2: 100 feet off a rock pinch, with some overhanging sections. Directly in the watercourse, this rappel is quite the treat if you catch the canyon with some run-off.
More bushwacking and some fun downclimbs take you the remaining way to Fish Creek.
Exit
Turn left at Fish Creek to hike southeast / up-stream back to the approach/exit drainage.
Alternatively, you may follow the creek to the 88 and walk the road 2+ miles back to the car park. This route may be less strenuous but is longer and less direct.
Red tape
Beta sites
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Super Amazing Map : Romeo Canyon - HikeArizona.com : Romeo Canyon
